Alumni Profiles

Profiles by Class Year

Profiles by Major

Profiles by Degree Level

Search by Name

Profiles by Name

Joyce graduated from Michigan Tech in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration-Industrial
Management. She began her career at American Can and moved on to Kaiser Aluminum &
Chemical Corporation in Spokane, WA. In 1981, she was the foreman of the company’s
Trentwood Works Division. She then accepted a position with Kimberly-Clark Corporation
where she remains today. During her 22 years with K-C she has held various manufacturing
positions with Infant Care, Tissues, Adult Care, Wet Wipes, Non-wovens, and Technical
Paper Businesses. She is currently at her fifth K-C location, serving as the Product
Supply Director for the company’s Business-to-Business Group in Roswell, Georgia.
. . .

Carl Adams received his BS degree in Applied Physics from Michigan Tech in 1962. He
earned an MS degree in 1963 and a PhD in 1966 from Purdue University in Industrial
Administration. In 1966, he joined the Systems Analysis Group in the Office of the
Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.
Since 1970, he has been a professor in the Carlson School of Management at the University
of Minnesota. He has served as the chairman of Minnesota's internationally recognized
Information and Decision Sciences Department since 1983. From 1995 to 1996, he was
elected and served as chairman of the University of Minnesota Faculty Consultative
Committee.
. . .

Dr. William Adams earned the degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
from Michigan Tech in 1954, and went on to pursue an MSEE degree from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Purdue where he
stayed on as Assistant Professor. Â
In the early 1960s he left academia to join the Industrial Nucleonics Corp. where
over the next thirty years he successively led groups in engineering, field service,
manufacturing, and marketing and attained the position of Senior Vice President. He
was responsible for much of the company’s leadership work in automatic control and
instrumentation. . . .

Clouds arise out of nowhere and dissolve into nothingness, an intricate interaction
of heat and cold, dampness and dust. Michael Adler aims to describe a portion of that
dance in numbers, the sign language of physics.
Adler is a senior majoring in both physics and applied/computational mathematics.
An accomplished violinist, he is minoring in music, sings with the Michigan Tech Concert
Choir, and plays with the Marquette and Keweenaw symphony orchestras. He received
the 2013 Provost's Award for Scholarship, Michigan Tech's highest honor for academic
excellence.
For his senior research project, Adler is developing a mathematical . . .

Marilyn received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Michigan Tech in 1981.
She also received her teaching certification and taught junior and senior high math
and other courses at Houghton-Portage Township Schools from 1981 to 1987. In 1990,
she earned her master’s degree in mathematics from Michigan Tech, and worked as an
instructor in the department. Then in 1997 she received her PhD in statistics from
the University of Minnesota and began working at Pfizer Inc. in Groton, CT. She worked
as a biostatistician, analyzing data from clinical trials. In 2000, she received the
Pfizer Central Research Achievement Award for her work in analyzing electrocardiogram
data. In 2001, she transferred . . .

Frank Agosti joined Detroit Edison as a student engineer in 1957, earned a BS in Mechanical
Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1958, and returned to the company full-time. Agosti
progressed upward through a number of engineering and management posts at Edison's
coal-fired power plants and was responsible for the start-up of the Monroe power plant.
He later served as vice president for nuclear operations (1982-1987) during the start-up
of the Fermi 2 plant.
After more than 30 years experience at Detroit Edison's coal-fired power plants, he
was elected senior vice president for power supply in 1990. Agosti has been awarded
the Board of Trustees . . .

How (and why?) do you run a marathon?
by
Dennis Walikainen '92 '09
You start with a cause.
Or, at least you do if you are Mike Agostini '97, who has run two Boston Marathons:
one properly, one not so well.
"I started running in Japan in 1993â€“94 during a study abroad trip," he says. "I did
it to curb my hunger, since running is an appetite suppressant, and I was broke."
Fast-forward thirteen years. Agostini is living and working in Boston, home of the
world's most famous 26.2-mile jaunt. No longer hungry, he found a different inspiration
to take up running in a serious way.
"Some colleagues [at Mathworks] were . . .

In 1979, Gary started his career at Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company in Ishpeming, Michigan.
After an increasing number of western assignments, he moved to Colorado where he became
CCI's Chief Engineer and soon after, Manager of the Western Division. He is a national
authority on oil shale and served as chairman of the National Oil Shale Association.
Gary has had a distinguished career of professional publications, diverse program
and venture management for his company and varied public service to governments, universities
and professional organizations. Some highlights include Director of the Colorado Mining
Association, Chair of the American Mining Congress, Synfuel Subcommittee, committee
service to . . .

"Make your own success every day. Don't wait for it to come."
Johnathon M.E. Aho '08 continues a tradition and philosophy he developed at Michigan
Tech and puts it into practice as he continues at the Mayo Clinic. His ability to
excel might not surprise those who remember the accomplishments of the
Michigan Tech President's Award for Leadership winner, and his service to others on the Michigan Tech campus and in the community.
A double major, in mathematics and biological sciences, with an international minor
in German, didn't stop Johnathon from taking on leadership roles.
As 2008
Blue Key Honor Society President he helped spearhead a 33 percent . . .

Katerina E. Aifantis enrolled at Michigan Tech in 1999 at age 16 and received her
Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 2002 at age 19.
With a graduate research fellowship from the National Science Foundation, she earned
her Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and her Doctorate
in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Groningen at the age of 21, becoming
the youngest person ever to get a PhD in the Netherlands.
After spending time as a postdoc in various institutions, including Harvard, she was
awarded, at age 24, a five-year European . . .

Michael Aimone served with the Department of Defense for 23 years. He served in the
Pentagon as the Assistant to the Director for Emergency Plans and in the Office of
the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Security Policy. In his last DoD assignment,
he directed the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization’s facilities engineering group.
Currently, Mr. Aimone is the Vice President of Engineering for SKM Systems Analysis
Inc. His military awards include the Secretary of Defense and Air Force Civilian Meritorious
Service Awards, and a Bronze Star with Valor for combat service in Vietnam.
From 1997 Induction to the Department of Electrical Engineering Academy

Cathy received her BS degree in Geological Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1971.
She then spent seven years in industry: four years with mining companies in Canada
(Ontario and BC) and then three as Geological Engineer and Geotechnical Engineer with
consulting companies in Washington State and Illinois.
In 1979 she returned to academia and a doctoral program at Northwestern University
where she received her Ph.D. in Mineral Resources Engineering and Management. Since
1981 she has been at New Mexico Tech, where she is now Chair of the Department of
Mineral and Environmental Engineering. She currently serves on the U.S. National Committee
for Rock Mechanics of the NRCC, National Academy of Science.
. . .

Bernie Alkire completed his baccalaureate degree in civil engineering at Michigan
Tech in 1961. After graduation, he served for two years in the US Army as a Lieutenant
and then five years with the Michigan Department of State Highways as a Highway and
Bridge Design Engineer before going on to earn an MS and PhD in civil engineering
at Michigan State.Â Â
He returned to Michigan Tech in 1971 as an Instructor and was promoted to Assistant
Professor after completing his PhD in 1972. In his 40 years as faculty in the Department,
he taught a range of geotechnical, materials, and transportation related courses.
In 2011 he retired from his academic career at Michigan Tech and is now an Emeritus
. . .

Benjamin D. Almquist '04 examines life at nano-scale, but thinks big. Currently a
Lecturer at Imperial College London where he leads his own research team, Ben came
to Michigan Tech as an undergraduate for the welcoming culture, easy access to faculty,
excellent reputation, and area beauty. Here the award-winning researcher developed
and refined an admirable life philosophy: "Leave the world a better place than when
you arrived and find a way to enjoy making it happen."
Thinking back to what really stood out about Michigan Tech, Ben recalls, "Professor
Bruce Pletka took the time to lead a one-on-one visit around the department and campus.
There was no . . .

Tony Altobelli has served as Assistant Treasurer at Google for eleven years since
joining the company in 2007. Â In his role as head of the investment portfolio management
group, Tony designed and established Google’s investment management platform to manage
the company’s worldwide cash portfolio that presently exceeds $100 billion. Â Tony
is now the head of Risk and Strategy at Google Treasury, responsible for investment
and hedging strategies and risk management activities. During his tenure at Google
Tony has also held several other treasury leadership positions in the areas of corporate
finance and capital markets, managing the company’s liquidity and financing activities,
. . .

Beau Anderson wants to engineer a planet with more heart.
The earnest alumnus says, "Humanity is something I would love to bring to the whole
world; make sure every single person has water to drink, every person has shelter,
food, health, and people around them caring for them. I don't want to make the world
a huge monoculture. Differences are awesome. But every culture should provide humans
with all their physical needs."
Anderson, who describes himself as "my young and ambitious self," graduated with a
degree in mechanical engineering in May 2008. While a senior, he participated in the
study-abroad program for four months in Copenhagen, Denmark. He worked on a vehicle
. . .

Britta Anderson '15, a new member of the Alumni Board of Directors, says that she
didn’t choose Michigan Tech—Michigan Tech chose her. "I was visiting for the Leading
Scholars competition. My host, along with some other hosts and scholars, were down
at Prince's Point enjoying the late evening snowfall. The moment that I crested the
hill walking back up is forever solidified in my mind's eye. In that moment, I was
no longer a high school senior, but a student already at Michigan Tech. From that
moment on, Michigan Tech was the place for me."
"Michigan Tech students are driven, motivated, and crazy smart. These qualities have
helped tremendously at work. While you learn theory in school, having . . .

Chris graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1972 with a masters degree
in biological sciences. Prior to attending Tech, she earned a bachelors degree in
biological sciences from Michigan State University. Chris began her career as an earth
sciences and chemistry teacher in the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin â€“ Madison school system
in 1974. During this time she has began work on a second masters degree at the University
of Wisconsin. In 1979, she received her masters in education administration. Chris
returned to Michigan Tech in 1981, accepting an instructor’s position in the biology
department. In 1983, she became the University’s Director of Summer Youth Programs
which led . . .

Christine (Tina) graduated from Michigan Tech in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Civil Engineering. She continued with her education and received her master’s degree
in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University in 1996. Over the next several years,
Tina was employed with Raytheon. The positions she held at the company included Project
Engineer for Underwater Coastal Surveillance System, and Design Engineer for Mobil
Offshore Base.
Tina took a temporary leave from the corporate world in 1999 to spend more time at
home with her children. In addition to being a full-time mom, she has used this time
to develop skills in the education field. She was on faculty at the Community . . .

Cindy Anderson graduated from Michigan Tech in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical
engineering. She later received a MS in Engineering Management in 1988 from Santa
Clara University.
In 1992, she joined Cornerstone Imaging in San Jose, Calif., and became the vice president
of quality and information systems, steering the company through its growth from $14
million to $100 million in revenues and from a small start-up to an IPO. Several years
following the successful IPO, she left Cornerstone to join the software company Actionpoint,
also in San Jose, as the vice president of operations. Meanwhile, she co-founded BigCeramicStore.com,
a successful internet retailer of ceramic . . .

Donald Anderson completed his baccalaureate degree in civil engineering in 1966. He
started his career with the Michigan Department of Transportation as a Survey Crew
Chief and Lead Inspector. In 1969 he shifted his focus to estimating and bidding on
bridge and highway construction projects with Midwest Bridge Co.Â After seven years
with Midwest Bridge he joined the John Bemis Company with a focus on Highway Signing
and Traffic Safety. However, in 1977 he returned to bridge construction with C-Way
Construction Co. based in western Michigan. At C-Way he was Chief Engineer and responsible
for all estimating, bidding, and project management. In 1986, when C-Way suspended
operations in Michigan, Anderson . . .

Gary Anderson, a leader in industry, has stood on the shoulders of giants—that is,
his parents, whom he speaks of with fondness and admiration.
Anderson grew up in Ishpeming on Michigan’s iron range. His grandfather was killed
in a mining accident, so his father had to quit school at age 15 and go to work in
the mines to support the family. When his parents started their own family, they worked
their hearts out for their children. His mother wanted to make sure he had a good
education; his father wanted him to have a better life than he had. "They never had
anything beyond the basics," Anderson recalls, and he’s amazed yet at their . . .

Dr. Iver E. Anderson is a Senior Metallurgist at Ames Laboratory (USDOE) and Adjunct
Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering department at Iowa State University.
He is a Fellow of the American Powder Metallurgy Institute, ASM International, TMS,
and the National Academy of Inventors, as well as a member of the National Inventors
Hall of Fame. He earned his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering in 1975 from Michigan
Tech, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After completing his Ph.D. in 1982, he joined the Metallurgy Branch of the US Naval
Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. With a desire to return to the Midwest, Iver
. . .

Mr. Richard O. Anderson, a 1971 civil engineering graduate of Michigan Tech, is President
of SOMAT Engineering, Inc., in Taylor, MI. After receiving his baccalaureate degree,
he continued on and received his M.S. degree in civil engineering from Michigan Tech
in 1972, with a specialty in geotechnical engineering. Mr. Anderson returned to school
after five years of consulting practice and received his M.B.A. from the University
of Michigan in 1977.
In the 24 years following graduation from Tech, his consulting assignments have included
over 5000 geotechnical investigations for major commercial and industrial structures
throughout the Midwest, nuclear power plants, and a liquefied natural . . .

Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, Hanna Mining Company
Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Iron Ore Company of Canada
Robert Anderson earned a BS in Mining Engineering from Michigan Tech and received
an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering in 1978. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate
of Laws from St. Francis Xavier University.
He began his career with Hanna in 1947 and held many positions before his promotion
in 1978 to President and CEO. Anderson served during World War II as 1st Lieutenant
in the Army Air Force.
He received the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees Silver Medal in 1971. He is a member
of the Michigan Tech . . .

Upon graduation, Robert Anderson went directly into the U.S. Army WWII serving three
years as Infantry Sgt. In Europe and received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the
Combat Infantry Badge. Upon leaving military service, Robert spent 35 years with the
General Electrical Co. He holds 31 Patents and was awarded the GE Gold Medallion,
the 100th Anniversary Edison Plate Plaque, and the GE Distinguished Inventors Award.
He started with GE in the Engineer Test Program and went on to work on Photoflash
Lamp Designs, Related Production Equipment, Introduction of New Products to Factory
Production, Factory Inspections and Trouble-Shooting. He is a member of the GE Elfun
Society, and a Licensed Professional . . .

Terry Anderson completed his baccalaureate degree in civil engineering in 1970. After
spending six years on active duty with the US Army he joined the Michigan Department
of Transportation. His MDOT career spanned over 32 years starting at the level of
Transportation Engineer and retiring as a Senior Policy Executive in 2008. During
this time he also simultaneously continued his career with the US Army.Â He served
as a reserve officer from 1976 and retired from military service with the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel in 1993. In his years with the Michigan Department of Transportation,
Terry was assigned to a series of teams charged with producing a MDOT mission statement
and business plan. The focus . . .

Mr. Anderson began his career in 1944 working on the Manhattan Project as a Process
Engineer with Tennessee Eastman Corporation. In 1954 he returned to Michigan Tech
rising to the rank of Professor, Assistant head of Electrical Engineering in 1970
and Acting Head in 1972 and 1979-80. In 1984, he was appointed to the position of
Director of the School of Technology. He retired from Michigan Tech in 1988 after
forty years service. He has received several gubernatorial appointments to state licensing
boards. In 1957, he received the Michigan Tech Distinguished Teacher Award.
Mr. Anderson was featured in an article in the Spring 2007 Michigan Tech Magazine,
. . .

Paul Angeli earned the degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Michigan
Tech in 1987. Â He was awarded a graduate fellowship from General Electric to continue
his studies at Michigan Tech, earning the degree Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
in 1988 while studying under Professor Paul Lewis. Â In 1992, he became licensed as
a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Minnesota. Â He is a past member
of IEEE, and served for several years on the industrial advisory board for the Michigan
Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Mr. Angeli began his professional career in 1988 with 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota,
as an automation engineer. Â He earned several . . .

From the age of three, when she attended a special early kindergarten on a state teachers’
college campus, Pat Anthony has followed her dream of being a teacher and mentor.
Science and college prep courses took center stage while she was in high school in
Grandville, Michigan, and a visit from Michigan Tech’s Glee Club opened her eyes to
the promise of an education at Tech.
She hit the Michigan Tech campus in 1963, the first woman to enroll in electrical
engineering. She was active at Tech, serving as vice president of Lambda Beta sorority,
as a DJ on Wadsworth Hall’s radio station and a member of the army ROTC auxiliary,
the Silver Stars. She graduated in 1967 with a . . .

Jim Anttonen ’65 became a pioneer in environmentally sustainable construction long
before the term "sustainable" became a household word.
In 1985, Anttonen launched ARS Denver Inc. with his partner, Kim Haarberg. The Colorado-based
corporation has grown to become one of the top firms in the country specializing in
soil stabilization and asphalt reclamation.
Using methods that are friendly to the environment, including the grinding and repurposing
of existing asphalt, ARS Denver prepares roadways and other thoroughfares to be paved.
"We were one of the companies that pioneered full-depth asphalt reclamation in this
part of the country," said Anttonen.
. . .

Dr. Apelgren graduated from Michigan Technological University with a B.S. degree in
Biology in 1970. He went on to Medical School at the University of Michigan, graduating
in 1974 followed by a one year rotating internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in
Ann Arbor.
He received residency training in surgery at the University of California Davis from
1976 to 1980 and went on to do further training in surgical nutrition at Harvard from
1981 to 1983.
He was on the faculty at West Virginia University School of Medicine from 1983 to
1988 and came to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Department of
Surgery in 1988 where he continues to serve. Dr. Apelgren was promoted to the . . .

Ruth joined the Air Force in 1980, an Honor Graduate from basic training, and was
stationed at Kl Sawyer Air Force Base as an Avionic Instrument Systems Technician.
The Air force selected her to attend Michigan Technological University in 1984. While
here, she received the Carl Schonberg Award, given by the faculty at Tech to the student
selected as the outstanding electrical engineering undergraduate. In 1986, Ruth graduated
from Michigan Technological University (summa cum laude) with a Bachelor of Science
in Electrical Engineering. She went on to complete Officer Training School as First
Honor Graduate. Ruth spent the next six years at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio,
Texas, first as a COMSEC Electronics Engineer, . . .

Elio Argentati, a native of Iron Mountain who moved to Iron River, Michigan, graduated
from Michigan Tech with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1950, after
which he fashioned a notable career.
At Tech, he was a member of the Rifle Team, the Varsity Club, and the Air Force ROTC
program. He served in the Air Force in Japan and Korea from 1950 to 1953, and then
began his career, which saw him go from an engineer to the head of the Upper Peninsula
Power Co.
After his military service, Elio worked at his family business for three years, then
joined the Erie Mining Co. in Minnesota. In 1960, he signed on at UPPCO as an applications
engineer and spent the rest of his career . . .

Peter graduated from our department in 1959 with a BS in geology. He couldn't find
geological work after graduation so he went to work for Ingersoll Rand Manufacturing
Co., who transferred him to Calgary after a year and he became manager of compressor
manufacturing. He stayed with the company until 1975, but then he made a bold move
to get back to his geological roots. He took his savings and started his own oil and
gas company, which first centered around a single drill hole in central Alberta, that
he hoped would be successful. It was, and he has been in his own geological business
every since with three energy related companies: Aubry Consultants, Ltd., Wescal Gas
Ltd., and Bopete Resources Ltd.
. . .

Nancy earned a PhD in Biological Sciences from Michigan Tech in 1995. She completed
a bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and a master’s in
Natural Resource Ecology from the University of Michigan in 1997.
Nancy’s career began in 1978 when she was employed as a zooplankton/fishery biologist
at the University of Michigan Great Lakes Research Laboratories. From 1978-1981 she
progressed from being a laboratory technician to supervising a field and laboratory
team for a study of the ecological effects of two power plants located on Lake Michigan.
She also edited and co-authored a large volume on the
. . .

Don Autio began his career with Hanna Mining Co. in Iron River as an electrical engineer.
After five years, as the mines were closing, Don moved to E. I. DuPont in their construction
division as an instrument engineer. After two years in construction, he accepted a
job in Midland, Michigan with Dow Corning Corporation. Don spent the next 30 years
with Dow Corning in various engineering and management positions. During this time,
he completed the MBA degree at Central Michigan University. Don retired from Dow Corning
in 1994. He has been an active volunteer at Michigan Tech, serving on the Advisory
Boards for the Electrical Engineering Department, the School of Business and the Career
Center.
. . .

Dr. John Auzins holds a 1959 vintage BSEE from Michigan Tech and a 1963 MS/Ph.D. in
Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. In 1959, John started his career with
Lear Siegler in Grand Rapids and in 1960 he joined PR Mallory Co. in Indianapolis.
In 1963, he started his 34 year career with General Motors at Delco Electronics (DE)
working on thin film integrated circuits. He led the establishment of monolithic integrated
circuits at DE in the early 1960s and the development and implementation of hybrid
modules for automobiles such as regulators and ignitions. His last seven years at
DE were spent in Advanced Development/Systems Integration where he was responsible
for . . .

Carl Avers earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1962.
He continued his education in 1968 at Stanford University completing a special course
in Special Finance, Economics, Accounting and Engineering Economy. Carl began his
career in 1962 at the San Diego Gas & Electric Company as a Junior Engineer. He advanced
in the company to the level of Project Manager before becoming a successful entrepreneur
and consultant in the thermal energy area beginning in 1970 when he first developed
Applied Energy, Incorporated. From 1975 until 1980 he was the Director of Advanced
Energy Systems Division for Ellers, Fanning, Oakley, Chester & Pike, Incorporated.
Avers was the principal . . .